Fuel-feeding apparatus



June 10, 1930. J. c. couLoMBE l FUEL FEEDING 'APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Joseph C'. Coulombe,

June 10, 1930.

J. c couLoMBE 'FUEL FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Marh 5, 1925 2 sheets-shet 2 INVENTOR Jjseph C'. Coulombe,

BY m

ATTORNEY Patented June 10, 1930 Josnrn c. ooULoMBn, orxoiioivro, INDIANA FUEL-Eenzame ArPAnAT-us i Application filed March 5, 1925. Serial No. 13,2423.

This invention relates to fuel feeding apparatus or so called vacuum tanks.'wliich have become almost universally employed in motor vehicles for Vraising' fuel 'from a low level supply tank and distributing it to the carburetor of the engine.

It is, in eii'ect, a pumping device, fusing a sub-atmospheric pressure for giving the re quired lift'forraisingthe fuel. This subatmospheric Vcondition may beV secured in various manners, either from the oil pumping system; from the inlet of the manifold o r 'from attachment to the exhaust. 1 z

The device herein specifically defined relates to a special form and type of device having certain features of advantage hereinafter set forth.

Thev main object of! the invention is to provide simple, compact and' effective features.

of the character described, which can'be made in condensed or enlarged form.

A further object isto insure proper opening and closing of the valves in the mech'- anism.

Referring tothe drawings:

Fig. 1,is a vertical section of thedevic'e'.

Fig. 2, is a top plan view illustrating its attachment to asupport. Y

Fig, 3, is a similar view inside elevation, partially broken in section to show` the inner operating chamber.

Fig. il; is a plan vien1 of thebottom of the operating chamber` 4' r Fig. 5, is a fragmentary view showing a modified arrangement lof receptacles and priming; conduit.

Fig. 6, is a similar plan view.

Fig.` 7, is a fragmentary view of the bottom plate and connections.

In all devices of this character, certainrelations must be provided for and maintained sothat the device' will operate on low` suction or high suction. f

ADifficulties have been experienced in arranging the various valves and controls toV give rapid operation for pumping the charges o'ffuel drawn-up to the operating` chambers.

The present invention is designed lto eliminate faults of this character, as far as possible, and to provide avery compact float and valve mechanism which will operate with great certainty. f

ln the accompanying drawings, A, indicates the outer casing which is hereV shown as of rectangular form.

.Aworkingchamber7 is arrangedl Within an interior casing .'B, also of rectangular form, but not completely filling the casing A. It has a close slip fit with three sides of the casing A, and is supported on the upper edge of the saidcasing. -Along one sideV there is a space C, between thefinner and outer casings and the inner casing is held in place by a spring D. A hinged cover E, closes lthe opening between the two`1cases and offers a Vconvenient and comparatively Alarge space,

for priming features, when'necessary.

The apparent ease with which the inner casing and appurtenant parts, connected with the Working chamber, may. be removed from the main casing is obvious.

The lower portion of the casing A, provides Ywhat may be termed a distributing chamber a. This communicates through a conduit 1, withfthe carburetor. The inner casing B, has a connecting block 2, at its upper end, said" block being secured thereto by a tubular threaded nipple 3,which serves to,conv nect the interior of the operating,chamber with a fuel supply connection t.

The block 2, is further secured by a tubular threaded member 5, the interior of which connects with a suction opening- 6.

Tubular member 5, extends into the operating chamber and has, at its upper end, `a valve' seat 7,' controlled by a valve 8, on the end of float. rod9. This float rod is of such a diameter] that a space is left between it and the bore of the Vmember 5, as at 9, which space communicates with' the interior of the operating chamber through an opening 10.

\ A suitable ioat 11, is secured to the-lower end of the spindle of the valve 8, and overlying the float is an inverted cup 12, secured to the member 5, by a nut 13.` Y This cup forms an hydraulic control chamber for the float. @The float and its spindle carries a cup shaped shield 14, the upper edge-of which en tends above the lower edge of the inverted cup 12. This arrangement of cups and ducts forms what is, in effect, a control chamber for the float and is an efficient means for aiding the float in action, giving a powerful opening and closing effect upon the valve 8, with a minimum size of float.

There is a metered atmospheric opening, as at 15, which communicates with the interior of the operating chamber. This is constantly open but does not bleed sufficient air int-o said chamber to destroy the effective operation of the vacuum in raising fuel to the working chamber.

Extending from the lower end of the working chamber is a drop tube 1G, controlled by a valve 17, which, in turn, is connected with a float lever 18, and its float 19, through a suitable link 20.

Surrounding the lower end of the drop tube 16, is a chamber 21, open at the bottom as at 22. The valve 17 is somewhat larger than the end of the drop tube 16, leaving a comparatively small clearance between its peripheral edge and the interior of the chamber 21.

This arrangement is effective in taking advantage of the suction effects of the operating chamber for closing the valve 17, though not interfering with the flow of fuel from the operating chamber to the distributing chamber.

The small float 19, must have just sufficient weight, when not immersed, in the liquid, to a little more than counterbalance the valve 17 and thereby keep the latter to its seat. It must have sufficient buoyancy, however, when immersed, to open the valve 17, and keep it open, unless there is a high vacuum in the operating chamber, sufficient to bring the valve back to its seat and overcome the buoyancy of the fioat. The suction of the operating chamber aids in more readily closing the valve 17, against the buoyancy of the float 19, when there is partial vacuum in' the operatingchamber.

The lower plate 11, of the hydraulic chamber is perforated as at 14, so that as soon as the liquid level in the operating chamber drops below said plate 14, a pressure within the inverted cup 12, will be neutralized to that of the pressure in the operating chamber, allowing a quick discharge of any liquid in the inverted cup and a quick forceful pull of the fioat upon its valve rod for opening the valve 8. A hooked stem 9, determines the lower limit of movement of the valve 8, and appurtenant parts.

As a constructional feature of advantage, a bar of metal is formed into a rectangular reinforcement 23, thus saving the expense of punching from sheet and the consequent waste. Likewise, the lower edge of the chamber is formed up and bent over the stiffener 23, as at 24, thus giving a firm bottom to which to secure the bottom plate 25, which carries the dependant tube 16, valve, and

float mechanism. This plate is secured in place by screws 26, which makes the interior of the operating chamber accessible.

It will be quite apparent that the pa'its may be very readily and accurately assembled with a minimum cost and by ordinary labor, the hydraulic chamber with its float and suction valve may be assembled as a unit and its application to the interior of the operating chamber secures the connection block in place, after the nipple 3, has been set up. Likewise, the whole valve and float mechanism of the plate 25, may be assembled as a unit and applied to the bottoni of the chamber.

l'here is thus an advantage in the rectangular form of tank structure, both as to point of economy in material and ease of manufacture and labor for ready assembly.

The bleed hole or metered opening 15, is illustrated as somewhat exaggerated, and ordinarily this is not much greater than a (5() drill, and may be less.

In the form of device herein above described, it is apparent that with the parts in the position of Figure 1, suction, being induced from any proper source, will overcome the atmospheric bleed 15, and cause fuel to be raised into the operating chamber through the connection 1l, and nipple 3. The valve 17 is, of course, closed and the chamber a, is under atmospheric pressure.

As the liquid level rises in the operating chamber, sufficiently high to raise the float 11, the valve 8, will be seated, shutting off the suction; thereupon, the bleed hole 15, will leak enough air to neutralize high suction in the operating chamber and, as the float 19, is fully immersed, it will open the valve 17.

The flow of liquid through th(` drop tube 16, to the distributing chamber a, will hold this valve open until the liquid level has dropped in the operating chamber.

During the drop of the liquid level below the plate 14, the pressures within the inverted cup 12, and the operating chamber will be neutralized until the buoyancy of the float 11, is completely overcome and it will drop, pulling upon the valve 8, even against the suction of the suction connection G, thereupon a suction effect will be again induced in the operating chamber.

The valve 17, will always be closed with certainty when the level drops below the buoyant point of the fioat 19, but if there is suddenly high suction, this will aid in closing the valve against slight buoyant action of the float 19.

Thus, the entire range of suction effects is well taken care of to secure certainty of operation of the device. It will operate on either lowy or high suction and its valves will clear and function in a proper manner.

From the above, it will be noted that there is an operating chamber which is closed, ex-

cept for the metered atmospheric opening 15, and fuel inlet 4, and is automatically opened and vclosed to the distributing chamber a, which is under atmospheric tension and to the suction connection 6, which is always under sub-atmospheric condition during the operation of the device. u

Should the suction entirely fail, 'the entire contents of the operating chamber would ie delivered to the distributing chamber and this always provides sufficient fuel for the carburetor for starting the engine and reestablishing sub-atmospheric conditions for pumping.l f i Figures 5 and 6, show a modified form of slip tank arrangementl where a form of tank other than that of rectangular form, as heretofore described, may be employed, `and at thesame time give a large area priming conduit. Y

In these gures, a cylindrical or other form of casing b, is slipped Within theouter casing c, which as to the greater part of its surface, contacts with the .inner casing the outer casing, however, is distended at some `given point, as at c, to form a conduit (l, which, as illustrated in the drawings, is of tapered form and is closed by a cover e. Y

IWhile the rectangular form may be considered as preferred, vthe same method of securinga large prim-ing conduit Vmay be" readily effect-'ed in cylindrical casings, as illustrated in the figures just described, and this ferm may be applied where fixtures are already in use for manufacturing cylindrical tanks. l

`The general functions and operations are the same, the receptacle casings slide one within the other, the inner one .partially filling the outer oneand leaving a space of considerable area forming a large 4priming duct between the casings at some one point.

rlhe bottom of the main casing A, is so designed that it Vobvi'ates much trouble heretofore experienced in securing tight connection for the outlet duct 1, andthe cleaning valve, and provides a stiff construction which permits interchange of connections without liability' of twisting and breaking. l This bottom plate 27, has a depression'28, formed by forcing out the material vof the plate 27, and within this isvsecured, by soldering, a block 29, to which the outlet connection l, and the cleaning plug 30, may be conveniently secured.

This block 29, forms a stiffe'ner of sufficient thickness to be tapped out for the connections and together withthe displaced metal of the plate 27, gives an extremely rigid and nonbuckling structure.

It will be apparent that inscrewing up either of the connections, there is a long leverage afforded `b v the block 29, to resist buckling of the bottom plate.

co-operatively Nhat I claim Ias my inventionv and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: t

1.*In a fuel feeding apparatus, an

open atmospheric port, a discharge connection, a controlled valvel for the discharge connectioma controlling valve for t-he suction connection, a iioat and an hydraulic chamber actingwith the float for vsaid valve:

2. In a fuel feeding apparatus, an oper-V ating chamber havinga liquid supply conne'c'tioina constantly open atmospheric port, a suctionconnection, va valve controlled discharge connection, Aa, balancing float for the valve controlled discharge, a controlling valve forthe suction connection, a float-'for saidvalve and a-n hydraulic chamber coop'eratively acting with: the float.

3. In a fuel feeding apparatus, an opere ating chamber hav-ing' a liquid supply conoper? ating chamber having aliquid supply con-- nection, atsuction connection, a constantly nection, a constantly opened .metered atmos-V o pheic port, a suetionbonnection, av dis-V charge connectiomwa balancing float yand a valve controlledin partthereby for the dischargejconnectiom; a controlling valve for` the suction' connection, a float for said valve and an hydraulic chamber coacting with said float,-the' actuationseof 'the float and valve of the jsuction connection,.-collaterally cooperating with the float and valve ofthe dis-y charge connection to controlfthe operations of the operatingchambers. 4; In afuel feeding apparatus', an operating-,chamber having a liquid supply connection, a constantlyVV open atmospheric port, suction connection, a discharge connection valve and float controlled, afloat controlled valve forthe suction connection, a oat for closing and pen'ing the suction 'connection upon a rise and fall'of liquid level in the chamber, and means for modifying the action of the float under its normal buoyancy reactions. ,t Y Y l 5;v In a fuel feeding apparatus, Aan operating chamber, asuction connection and a liquid supply connection, discharge connections, a. valve controlling flow ofV fluids through the dischargeand acounter balance float for the valve having variable reactions upon the valve. A e

v 6. In a fue-l feeding apparatus, an operating chambeig'a suction connect-ion, a liquid supply "connection, a discharge connection, a float operatedvalve controlling the suction of said chamber, 'a valve cooperating with said float operated valve and controlling flow of'fluids through the discharge connection and a counter balancing float for said last named valve. i I 7. In al device of the character Vdescribed having an operating chamber with float con trolled means forintermittently drawing a supply of liquid thereinto,'a discharge for the chamber, a valve controlling the discharge and a separate float independent controlled means operatively connected with the valve for opening and closing the latter upon variations ot' liquid level in the chamber.

8. In a device of the character described having an operating chamber, and a discharge port, a valve controlling said discharge port and a downwardly open chamber encircling the valve, said chamber eX- tending above the valve and discharge port and below the same.

9. In a device of the character described having an operating chamber and a discharge port, a valve larger in diameter than the port for controlling the same and a chamber extending downwardly and surrounding the port and extending above the valve providing a restriction between the periphery of` the valve and the wall of t-he chamber.

l0. In a device of the character described, a chamber, a block for said chamber rovided with ya plurality ofvducts, one wa l of the chamber having openings, tubular nipples passing through the openings and engaging said block, clamping` the block to the chamber wall, said nipples forming connecting conduits with the ducts of the block.

11. In a device of the character described, having an operating chamber, a block for exterior conduit connections, a tubular nipple clamping said block to the casing of the chamber and forming a connection thereto with one of said conduits, a tubular connection also clamping said block to the casing and forming an opening from another of said conduits to the chamber and a valve seat appurtenant to said nipple.

12. In a device of the character described, an operating chamber, a block for an eX- terior conduit connection, a tubular nipple clamping said block to the casing of the chamber and forming a connection thereto, a valve seat in said tubular nipple, a valve cooperating with the valve seat and having a valve stem and a float rigidly secured to the valve stem.

13. In a device of the character described, an operating chamber, a block having a conduit connection, a tubular nipple clamping said block to the casing of the chamber, a valve seat in said nipple, a valve co-operating with the seat, aiioat connected with the valve stem, and an inverted cup secured to the nipple and encircling the float.

14. In a device of the character described, an outer casing of rectangular form, forming a discharge container, a rectangular casing partially iilling and closing the outer casing, a cover completing the closure and resilient means for holding the inner casing with reference to the outer casing.

15. In a device of the character described, an outer rectangular casing, an inner rectangular casing slipping within the outer casing and support-ed thereby, said casing partially filling and closing the outer casing, a priming space between one wall of the outer casingand a wall of the inner casing, and a cover for said priming space.

16. In a device of the character described, an operating chamber of rectangular form, a rectangular reenforcing frame and a rectangular opening in the bottom of the casing formed by turning up walls about the rectangular reenforcing frame.

17. In a device of the character described, an operating chamber of rectangular form, a rectangular reent'orcing frame, a rectangular opening in the bottom of the casing formed by turning up walls about the rectangular renorcing frame, and a plate secured to the rectangular reenforcing frame and forming a closure for the bottom of the chamber.

18. In a device of the character described, an outer casing forming a chamber of rectangular form, an inner casing slipping within the outer casing and having a slip lit on three .sides with reference to the outer casing, providing a gap between the remaining side and the outer casing and a cap for closing said gap.

19. In a device of the character' described, an operating chamber of rectangular form, a rectangular reenforcing frame, a rectangular opening in the bottom of the casing out-- lined by said frame and by the turned up walls about the rectangular opening and about the frame, a plate secured to the rectangular f ame and forming a closure for the bottom of the chamber, said plate supporting a valve controlling mechanism for the operating chamber.

20. In a device of the character described, an operating chamber, a flat bar bent to form a reinforcement for the bottom of said chamber, an opening in the wall of said chamber formed by cutting and bending the material of the wall against the frame and a plate removably secured to the frame and forming a closure for the bottom oi the chamber.

21. In a device of the character described, an operating chamber, a float controlled valve mechanism supported entirely from the head of said chamber, a removable closure for the bottom of the chamber' having a discharge opening and a float controlled valve for said opening supported entirely upon the removable plate.

22. In a device of the character described, a chamber, a connection block having a duct for communication through the wall of the chamber, a tubular nipple extending from the interior of the chamber and screw threaded to engage said block and having a iiange clamping the block in place, with reference to the chamber wall and forming a connecting conduit with the duct of the block.

23. In a device of the character described,

llO

lla'i an outer casing, an inner easing slipped therein, said outer casing being enlarged at one section to provide a priming duet between the Wall of the inner easing and the outer easing.

24C. In a device of the character described, an outer easing, an inner easing slipped therein, said outer easing being enlarged at one section to provide a priming duet between the Wall of the inner easing and the outer casing and a Cover for said duct.

JOSEPH e. CQULOMBE.V 

